Origins are player avatars in Baldur's Gate 3. Chosen during character creation, each of the seven origins comes with a predefined backstory, as well as its own unique quest and interactions. An eighth Custom origin is also available that does not come with its own quest.
All but one of the seven origins will be available in-game as as potential companions who can join the chosen avatar's party.
Overview
Most origins also have a set background, race and appearance that cannot be changed, as well with a pre-selected class that can be changed at any time in camp, past a certain point early in the game.
The Dark Urge origin is unique in that it allows for a custom race and appearance, while still having a predefined backstory, quest and interaction.
For a fully customisable character, the Custom origin is also available.[note 1].
Character creation
Picking an origin is the first choice during character creation. The player can choose to create a completely custom character, or choose from one of 7 origin Characters, each which has their own unique stories, desires and attitudes toward the world around them.
Shadowheart
Loyal Warrior
Half-Elf Cleric
The Dark Urge
Any race any class or
Dragonborn Sorcerer
Custom
You’ve always felt you had a greater calling, but it has never borne fruit. Everything changes when you awaken imprisoned on an alien ship. Perhaps your time has finally come.— Character creation menu
Custom characters are a Baldurian citizen with a race, class and background chosen by the player. The default name of a custom character is Tav.[note 1]
Astarion
Astarion prowled the night as a vampire spawn for centuries, forced to follow the orders of his sadistic master, Cazador: seduce every fool with a pulse, and lure them back to Cazador's lair. Free for now, Astarion will do anything to keep his life in the light. He can see but one way to ensure his liberty for good: become many times more powerful than his old abuser could ever dream of being. His body is forever tainted by the intricate, patterned scarring Cazador carved upon his back, and the elder vampire seems set on sending out waves of hunters seeking to capture his lost spawn.
Gale
What’s a god to a world-class wizard? Gale was once a formidable archmage in Waterdeep, but pushed his relationship with the goddess Mystra too far. Failing to usurp his former lover’s godhood, the goddess stole Gale’s magics away and cursed him with the Netherese Orb, a dangerous artefact with enough magical potential energy in it to level a city if it were allowed to escape. Beyond learning the lesson for his hubris, Gale has now become beset with concern for the danger he poses to others around him, and is worried that if he undergoes ceremorphosis, the angry Orb could imperil countless lives if he can’t neutralise it first.
Karlach
Fresh-escaped from Hell, Karlach is finally free of the archdevil Zariel - but not from the infernal engine Zariel planted in her chest. With her first taste of freedom in ten years, Karlach is eager to find a fix for the engine that's burning hotter and hotter before it burns her out completely. But even more premier in her mind? Exploring, finding like-minded travellers, falling in love (or lust)... and taking revenge on the man who sold her to Zariel all those years ago.
Lae'zel
Crashed down to the Sword Coast from the stars, Lae'zel is a fierce warrior, even by the standards of militant githyanki society. When faced with the possibility of becoming a mind flayer, the monster she has dedicated her life to defeating, she must prove her worth and earn the right to rejoin her people -- if they don't execute her first. Will Lae'zel's strength and determination be enough to prove herself to Queen Vlaakith, or must she walk another path in exile?
Shadowheart
A devoted cleric of Shar, goddess of darkness and loss, Shadowheart agreed to have her memories wiped as part of a holy mission. Now its sole survivor, she must deliver a powerful relic back to her kin in order to win Shar's love and have her memories restored – but all the while, she is tormented by strange, painful magic that she struggles to understand.
Wyll
From a scion of a famed Baldurian house to a life of adventure on the road, Wyll’s life as the monster hunter called the Blade of Frontiers has made him one of the beating hearts of the Sword Coast. While he has done great deeds for the Coast’s people, the source of his power remains secret. The cambion Mizora drew Wyll into a warlock’s pact in a moment with many lives at stake, and cursed him with the duty of hunting her enemies. Mizora only asks Wyll to sacrifice devilish creatures to her, but a cambion’s ambitions are ever fickle, and Wyll wishes to escape the pact before its price grows cruel.
The Dark Urge
You remember nothing of your past besides that you walked a path paved with blood. As you venture on, you find yourself inescapably drawn towards unimaginable cruelties. Where do these thoughts come from?
You can customize this origin's race and class with White Dragonborn Sorcerer as the default option. Your background will always be Haunted One, and you will have amnesia. You can change the character's name with the default name being The Dark Urge.